American tenor Nicholas di Virgilio (above) was a stalwart of the New York City Opera during the Company's heady time in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Having moved from City Center to the New York State Theatre, and bolstered by the 'overnight success' of Beverly Sills, New York City Opera became a true mecca for opera-lovers, providing serious competition for The Met next-door with a company of wonderful singing-actors and a more adventurous repertoire. I heard literally hundreds of really memorable performances there.
In addition to his busy operatic career, Mr. di Virgilio was well-known as a concert artist. In 1963, he participated in a performance of Benjamin Britten's WAR REQUIEM with the Boston Symphony at Tanglewood which has been preserved on DVD; Erich Leinsdorf conducts, and Phyllis Curtin and Tom Krause are the other vocal soloists.
Mr. di Virgilio is the tenor soloist in Leonard Bernstein's 1964 recording of the Beethoven 9th, and the tenor also sang Mozart's D-minor REQUIEM at a memorial service for President John F Kennedy in January of 1964, under Leinsdorf's baton; the performance was televised. Composer Dominic Argento dedicated his Six Elizabethan Songs to Nicholas di Virgilio.
In 1970, at New York City Opera, I chanced to hear Nicholas di Virgilio sing Faust in both the Gounod and Boito settings of the story of an aging philosopher who sells his soul to the devil. I was particularly amazed by his taking the high-C in "Salute demeure" in a lovely piano.
Nicholas di Virgilio - FAUST aria - NYCO 3
Nicholas di Virgilio - Da campi dai prati - MEFISTOFELE - NYCO 1970
~ Oberon